Clutch check and release apparatus



' July 14, 1931.

A. CHARTIER CLUTCH CHECK AND RELEASE APPARATUS Filed June 13, l9 2 9 2Sheets-Sheet l W A WimxWA' WAW m @51- 291 Inventor Lifornag,

Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE ADJ UTOR CHARTIER,OF SHERBRGOKE,

QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIG-NOR OF TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT T0 ARTHUR LAGUEUX ANDTWENTY-FIVE PER CENT TO JOSEPH EMILE PELLETIER, OF QUEBEC, CANADA CLUTCHCHECK AND RELEASE APPARATUS Application filed .Tune 13,

The present invention relates to clutch controlling mechanismparticularly adapted for checking and releasing the clutch crank ofmotor cycles and similar motor vehicles.

Heretofore, it has been the common practice, in the construction in thewell known standard types of motor cycles, to provide a foot pedaloperated clutch control mechanism which will disengage the clutch whenthe pedal is depressed. Due to the usual clutch spring, tending to throwthe clutch into engagement, it is necessary, with this construction, toconstantly retain the foot on the pedal to retain the clutch indisengaged position, permitting the operator to place one foot only uponthe ground to balance the vehicle. This is disadvantageous as it isoften difficult or inconvenient to support the vehicle in uprightposition unless both feet can be placed upon the ground for thispurpose.

An important object of the present invention is the provision ofmechanism which will check or retain the clutch in disengaged positionafter operation of the operating pedal so that both feet may be placedupon the ground to balance the motor cycle in stationary position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of mechanismassociated with the foot operated clutch control apparatus which willautomatically check the clutch in disengaged position and retain thesame thus until released.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automaticallyoperating clutch mechanism for pedal operated clutch apparatus and anauxiliary foot pedal operated release mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a clutch checkand release mechanism of the above character which will be operatedthrough the medium of manually controlled fluent material.

Other objects and advantages of the invenr tion will become apparent asthe description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like reference characters are employed to desig- 1929. Serial No.370,705.

nate corresponding parts throughout the same:

,Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a motor cycleshowing the improved clutch operating mechanism associated therewith,

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the clutch operating mechanism,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 4 is a front end elevational view of the same,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure2, showing the bottom portion in elevation,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section on line 6-6 of Figure 2, showing theclutch crank 1n elevation and in clutch engaging positlon,

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the clutch crank in clutchdisengagingposition,

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section taken onthe line 88 ofFigure 4-, showing the ball valve forced from its seat by the valve rod,

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the ball valve in closed position,

Figure 10 is a similar view showing the ball valve unseated by thepressure of the fluent material,

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentar section taken on the line 1111 ofFigure 10, and

Figure 12 is a similar View taken on the line 1212 of Figure 8. I

Referring to the drawings, wherein -for the purpose of illustration isshown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 generallydesignates a motor cycle frame formed of tubular bars suitably connected on the conventional motor cycle construction diagrammaticallyoutlined.

From the lower rear portion of the vehicle is laterally extended theouter end of a clutch shaft 21 having attached thereto a laterallyoifset crank 22. The clutch, which is of com mon construction, embodiesan interior spring arranged to normally urge the clutch into engagingposition, wherein the crank 22 is swung to a forwardly inclinedarrangement, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The bottom longitudinally extending bar of the frame carries an uprightbracket 23 embracing the bar and composed of a pair of complementaryfolded sections arranged to support in the upper portion a transverserotatable spindle 24. Rearwardly of the bracket 23 is mounted acomplementary bracket 25 arranged in a similar position adapted topivotally support in a horizontal arrangement an elongated casing 26.

On the inner portion of the spindle 24 is pivotally connected a gearshift lever 27 disposed for movement in a vertical arc and connectedwith the transmission mechanism through a connecting rod 28. On theouter portion of the spindle is journaled a foot pedal embodying anangular lever 29 pivoted intermediate its ends and carrying on oneextremity a tread plate 30. To the opposed end of the foot lever 29 ispivotally connected aclutch operating rod 31. The opposed end of the rod31 is pivotally con nected with the free end of the clutch crank 22 fordirect manual operation of the clutch.

The casing 26 is divided longitudinally to provide a pair oflongitudinally extending parallel compartments 32 and 33 arranged oneabove the other and of cylindrical form. The rear end of the casing isenclosed by a removable head 34 having an opening and tubular sleevep-roj ection in registration with the lower chamber 33. The upper andlower compartments are in communication through an exterior conduit 35connected to transverse ports 36 extending transversely through thecasing wall communicating with the top of the upper compartment and thebottom of the lower compartment.

Extending longitudinally at one side of the casing 26, at anintermediate position, is a longitudinal tubular valve housing 37divided intermediate its ends by a transverse partition 38 formed with areduced axial through bore forming communication between enlargedlongitudinal chambers 39. Mounted for axial sliding movement in the rearchamber 39 is a valve rod 40 formed with an enlarged shoulder 41 andhaving an extension 42 projecting through an aperture in the casinghead. The inner extremity of the valve rod 40 is formed with anon-circular, preferably square extension 43 slidable in the reducedbore in the partition 33 and disposed to operate a ball valve 44disposed in the forward compartment. In valve closing position, the ballvalve 44 is urged upon a recessed seat against the rear side of thepartition by means of a coiled compression spring 45. The bore in whichthe square stem extension 43 operates is preferably of circular form soas to afford passages between the extension and the wall of the bore forthe passage of fluent matter. A compression spring 46 is also arrangedabout the valve rod 40 acting against the shoulder 41 to normally urgethe rod to a forwardly extended position. The rear valve compartment 39communicates with the upper casing chamber 32 through a transverseupwardly inclined passage 47 while the rear valve compartment is incommunication with the lower chamber 33 through a downwardly inclinedpassage 48.

Mounted for reciprocating axial movement in the lower casing chamber 33and snugly fitting the walls thereof is a piston 49 having attachedthereto a piston rod 50 extending through the rear casing head andpivotally connected with "he intermediate portion of the clutch crank22.

Pivotally connected with the rear end of the casing and disposed toswing in a horizontal plane in registration with the rear extension ofthe valve rod 40 is an angular push bar 51 arranged to engage the valverod and depress the same when plunged forwardly toward the casing. Thepush bar 51 is actuated through the medium of a pedal 52 pivotallyconnected with the spindle 24 and having connection with the push barthrough a link 53.

The casing chambers 32 and 33 contain a fluent material, preferably oil,adapted to exert hydraulic pressure upon the piston 49. The oil isintroduced through a filling opening in the top of the casing normallyclosed by a plug 54.

In operation, when the operator desires to temporarily stop the vehicle,he disengages the clutch by an initial foot movement, pressingdownwardly on the tread plate 30 so as to swing the pedal lever 29 andconsequently swing the clutch actuating crank 22 through a rearwardlydirected are. He may then remove his foot from the pedal andconveniently balance the vehicle by placing both feet on the ground. Asthe clutch crank 22 is swung rearwardly, the piston rod 50 and piston 49will be simultaneously actuated to rear-wardly extended positions. Therearward movement of the piston will force the air compressed in therear portion of the lower compartment 33 through the lower passage 36and through the exterior conduit 35 into the upper portion of the topcompartment 32. The pressure accumulated in the upper compartment willforce the oil through the rear valve chamber 39 and the reducedcommunicating bore 38 so as to force the ball valve 44 from its seat anddischarge the oil into the lower casing compartment 33 in front of thepiston. Upon completion of this operation, the ball valve will bereturned upon its seat to prevent a return flow of the fluent materialso as to obviate return forward movement of the piston and to retain theclutch in its dis-engaged position against the action of the clutchspring.

When it is desired to again engage the clutch to resume movement of thevehicle, the operator presses the release pedal 52 which will causeforward swinging movement of the push bar 51 and the valve rod 40. Thevalve rod will thus force the valve toan unseated position so that theaction of the clutch spring will return the piston to its initialposition and discharge the oil into the upper casing compartment.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes as to the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with aclutch crank and foot controlled mechanism for swinging said crank fromits normal motor engaging position to a disengaging position, of acasing, a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in the casing andattached to the clutch crank, a second casing above the firstcommunicating therewith and holding a supply of fluid, check valve meansfor automatically inserting fluid from the second casing pressureagainst the piston to retain the clutch in disengaged position, andmeans for releasing the check valve means to permit return of the fluidto the casing and thereby enable the clutch and clutch crank to assumetheir normal engaged positions.

2. In motor clutch actuating mechanism, the combination with a crankattached to the clutch shaft, foot actuated mechanism for adjusting theclutch crank from a clutch engaging to a clutch disengaging positionagainst the action of the clutch spring, of a casing having a pluralityof compartments one of which contains a fluid, a piston mounted forreciprocating movement in one of the casing compartments connected withthe clutch crank, check valve means separate from the casings,controlling the passage of fluid from one casing to that containing thepiston whereby to automatically act to check the piston in extendedclutch disengaging position, and foot controlled mechanism for adjustingthe check valve means to return the fluid to its casing, release thepiston and permit the clutch to return to its normal engaged position.

3. In motor clutch actuating mechanism, the combination with a crankattached to a clutch shaft, foot actuated mechanism for adjusting theclutch crank from a clutch engaging to a clutch disengaging positionagainst the action of the clutch spring, of a casing having an upper anda lower compartment, a smaller compartment adjacent the other two, apiston mounted for reciprocathand.

ADJ UTOR CHAR-TIER.

